Finite Outfinishes Ursula in Thrilling Silverbulletday

NEW ORLEANS, LA – Trainer Steve Asmussen earned stakes win #1,000 on Saturday when his super-filly Finite outfinished Ursula late to capture the $150,000 Silverbulletday Stakes at Fair Grounds.

Breaking from post 6 as the 3/5 favorite under Ricardo Santana, Jr., Finite raced three-wide in third heading into the clubhouse turn, staying clear of any early kickback. Ahead of her, His Glory chased Ursula through opening fractions of :24.23, :48.72, and 1:13.64.

“She’s an amazing filly,” Santana, Jr. said. “She did a great job. She’s a fighting filly and I’m thankful we got the victory. She broke really good. I sat off the pace, she was really happy with our position. When the horses turned for home, I had a horse in the inside (Ursula) and horses to the outside. She (Finite) kept fighting all the way to the wire and we got the victory.”

Given her cue near the 1/4 pole, Finite responded alertly, ranging up alongside the front-runners before taking over at the 3/16 marker. The trio fought gamely for a moment before His Glory gave way, but Ursula would not be so easily deterred.

The two continued to battle heads apart when, in the shadow of the wire, Tempers Rising joined the fray, but in the end, Finite’s class prevailed. The Golden Rod Stakes (G2) victor crossed a neck and a head past Ursula and Tempers Rising in a final time of 1:42.73 for the 1-mile, 70-yard event over the fast main track.

Portrait, the 3/1 second choice, initially ran with Finite at the top of the stretch but couldn’t maintain her movement and settled for fourth. His Glory weakened to fifth, outfinishing Pass the Plate, She Can’t Sing, and Maga Suite to complete the order of finish.

The Silverbulletday is part of the Road to the 2020 Kentucky Oaks prep race season. Finite earned 10 points for the win, with Ursula receiving 4 for second, Tempers Rising 2 for third, and Portrait 1 for fourth.

Finite’s win was her fourth straight and third at the stakes level, including the Golden Rod and the Rags to Riches Stakes before that. The 3-year-old daughter of Munnings improved her record to 6-4-2-0 with $458,349 earned for co-owners Winchell Thoroughbreds (who also bred her), Thomas Reiman, William Dickson, and Deborah Easter.

“What a quality filly,” Asmussen said. “She is just another really special Winchell homebred. She has earned everything she’s gotten. She’s done everything we’ve asked of her. She battled, kept in front, and we are very proud of her.”

Finite returned $3.20 to win, $2.60 to place, and $2.10 to show. Ursula brought back $9.60 to place and $5.80 to show, while Tempers Rising paid $4.20 to show.